Short Term R&D Program

The Short Term R&D Program (STRAD) addresses the short term needs of individual industrial members. Due to the proprietary nature of the projects, industry is expected to match Micronet’s contribution to individual projects.

Objective

To promote short term research and development projects in areas of interest to Micronet industrial members.

Description

Matches up research and development topics suggested by industrial members of Micronet with university investigators. Topics are expected to be of a short term nature.

Participating industry must contribute (cash contribution) at least 50% of the funding to the project in the form of a contract. The remaining 50% will come from Micronet in the form of a matching grant.

The research and development projects are expected to be suitable as Masters’ level theses (but are not restricted to that purpose) and to run for a maximum of one year. The total funding per project cannot exceed $100,000/year.

Micronet’s contribution will consist of matching up the university investigators with the industrial partners, assisting in the contract negotiation phase, evaluating proposals, recommending funding and tracking the project’s progress.

An overview of the program is provided in the flow chart.

The relevant sections of the Network Agreement which apply to the STRAD (articles 12.5 and 16) are attached.

Benefits

Satisfy the need of Micronet industrial members for quick turnaround on funding of short-term research and development projects.

Give a monetary incentive (through the contract) to the university investigators to carry out research with industry.

Provide funding for graduate students through the matching grant from Micronet.

Enhance the ability of small industry to become a beneficiary of Micronet’s precompetitive research (create receptor capacity in small industry).